Three weeks after the first and presumably only debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, their running mates took the stage.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance faced off at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York on Tuesday night for the 2024 Vice Presidential debate. For 90 minutes, Americans once again had their options highlighted for them as the two were grilled on border policy, climate change, the Springfield, Ohio, migrants, and more.
Although it didn't hit the same level of absurdity that pitting Harris against Trump reached, it was still painful to watch. The pair kept agreeing with one another, though their mics were cut at one point. Walz seemed nervous, questions concerning Iran were dodged, and Vance refused to admit Trump had lost the 2020 election.
On the bright side, at least the fact that there was no live audience means nobody had to suffer through the familiar awkwardness of Vance's failed jokes as the campaign scrambles to make him seem "relatable" and "human."
fun uncle vs cousin that isn’t in the groupchat https://t.co/DTNRYn2TC6
— aram ? (@aramnotagoat) September 30, 2024
Still, with this quite probably being the last debate between the two sides before final votes are cast in November, it was an event to watch. And those who did so live were quick to offer commentary, incredulity, and, as one does on the internet, memes highlighting the most memorable moments of the evening.
If you missed it, you can still go back and watch on the CBS News YouTube channel or Paramount+.
Or we can just get you up to speed with the best Vice President debate memes of the night.
1.
Walz - ‘good evening folks’
— Fred Delicious ? (@Fred_Delicious) October 1, 2024
Vance - ‘hands up if you are ovulating’ https://t.co/eIHU4FEj5D
2.
No one:
— Steve Morris (@stevemorris__) October 2, 2024
American debates: would you bomb Iran and please be specific
3.
The moderators should ask JD Vance why Trump needed a new running mate in the first place.
— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@MaxwellFrostFL) October 1, 2024
4.
— Jess (@Punished_Jess) October 2, 2024
5.
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) October 2, 2024
6.
No one:
— Moira Donegan (@MoiraDonegan) October 2, 2024
JD Vance’s Makeup: pic.twitter.com/UI7K58XgHu
7.
Zero overlap pic.twitter.com/2fG9PMm2id
— John Arnold (@johnarnold) October 1, 2024
8.
Tim Walz: “We’re pro women”
— Albertina Rizzo (@albz) October 2, 2024
JD Vance: “I know a woman, she’s watching, hello woman”
9.
— Populism Updates (@PopulismUpdates) October 2, 2024
10.
Me on Thursday after telling my friends I’m never drinking again on Sunday pic.twitter.com/Hv4C7ky0GH
— Betches News (@Betches_News) October 2, 2024
11.
moderator: in 2017 you called trump “america’s hitler.” what changed
— matt (@mattxiv) October 2, 2024
jd vance: pic.twitter.com/VLRUWBfkLR
12.
I say this every four years but I would much rather watch a First Ladies debate. Melania would be like I’m the most beautiful woman in America and I won’t be ashamed of my body and Doug Emhoff would be like I defended the Taco Bell chihuahua in court
— cancela lansbury (@gossipbabies) October 1, 2024
13.
Moderator: is it going to be WW3?
— Samantha Ruddy (@samlymatters) October 2, 2024
Vance: I am from Kentucky
14.
Vance really in his element (talking over women)
— Organizermemes (@OrganizerMemes) October 2, 2024
15.
16.
17.
jd vance is like hold up fuck iran, lemme tell you abt the contents of my book "hillbilly elegy"
— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) October 2, 2024
18.
19.
I grew up in a working class family where my entire family had to share one eyeliner
— Go to Bluesky to save your brain -- L O L G O P (@LOLGOP) October 2, 2024
20.
21.
J.D. Vance prepping for the #VPDebate2024 pic.twitter.com/Rzs6HzqoH8
— CRG (@ChristGrec) October 2, 2024
22.
#VPDebate2024 JD Vance when asked the first question pic.twitter.com/LeVr5hajfv
— ☆La ? (@Ayah2156) October 2, 2024
23.
Fun inside fact: JD Vance has to do his lil "side eye" thing once every three minutes per the terms of his contract with L'Oreal Paris ColorLast™ Eyeliner.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 2, 2024
24.
25.
Bonkers of JD Vance to claim to be a job creator after what he did to Amy Adams’ career
— Samantha Ruddy (@samlymatters) October 2, 2024
26.
Dude in back muting JD Vance’s mic: pic.twitter.com/w05R3bTqTz
— Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) October 2, 2024
27.
You can tell JD Vance raised his hand a lot in law school (derogatory)
— Keeks ? (@DietCoke_Esq) October 2, 2024
28.
Republican housing policy vs. Democratic housing policy: https://t.co/7HwyAj4J0U pic.twitter.com/CxPl3a57X0
— Land ?alue Tax Would Solve This ??️ (@LVTYIMBY) October 2, 2024
29.
ALWAYS?ASK?EMPLOYERS?WHY?THE?POSITION?IS?OPEN? pic.twitter.com/YUpT9HhV1M
— Zack Bornstein (@ZackBornstein) October 2, 2024
30.
JD Vance has the energy of a restaurant manager who understands your complaint but still ain't taking that hamburger off your check.
— Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) October 2, 2024
31.
If I send you this it means I’m about to lie in the most articulate manner possible… pic.twitter.com/drhOnRyZfa
— NAACP (@NAACP) October 2, 2024
32.
jd vance got those costco guys eyes
— Michael Kandel (@K_A_N_D_E_L) October 2, 2024
33.
*Margaret once she put those mics on mute* ????
— AD III ♌️?? (@anseldeangelo) October 2, 2024
#VPDebate2024 pic.twitter.com/BjDGpi2iyf
34.
JD Vance's plan to appeal to women voters: pic.twitter.com/VDnrLpXX8d
— Jade Gray (@jadeegray1) October 2, 2024
35.
And now , the post debate wife swap ? pic.twitter.com/TYDi6cp7a7
— Brandon Wardell (@BRANDONWARDELL) October 2, 2024
